After a typical slow start, the undefeated Danvers High boys basketball team righted itself quickly and steamrolled past Winthrop, 88-50, Monday night in the DHS field house.
Rashad Francois snapped out of a brief shooting slump, hit three three-pointers and led the 13-0 Falcons with 15 points, showing flashes of his offensive brilliance the locals will need if they are to continue their winning ways and make a deep run in the post-season. Devan Harris added 14, Sean Rooney 11 off the bench, Vinny Clifford 11 and Peter Merry 10.
After trailing 9-6 early, the Falcons went on a monstrous tear, finishing the first half with a 48-21 lead.
Falcon fans got a couple brief scares when Francois came down hard diving for a loose ball, was slow to get up, but walked to the bench unattended and appeared to be alright, though sporting a slight limp. At 62-21, it was time for Rashad to skip the rest of the action.
Point guard Devonn Allen made a couple of his patented twisting drives to the basket, but came down hard on the floor on both occasions, but got up unscathed.
The Falcons are right back at it tonight at home against the Greater Boston League’s Malden Tornadoes (7-7). Two easy ones follow, at Swampscott Friday and hosting Gloucester Tuesday, with a toughie at non-league foe Rockland Monday night at 7, the game that had been postponed from January 2 after a Rockland student had been killed in an automobile accident.
After these three there challenges mount: at Marblehead, recent winner over Salem, on February 12, then the Woburn Invitation February 14 (versus current 9-05 Woburn), then the following day against either 9-5 Malden Catholic (Danvers coach John Walsh’s alma mater, where he starred) or 12-2 Bishop Feehan.
The Falcons then conclude the regular season February 18 at Lynn English, the Northeastern Conference Large champ-to-be (Danvers is the likely NEC Small champ for the fourth straight year and needs a strong finish to repeat as the NEC mythical overall champ for the fourth straight year).